Sierra Club chapter hurt by high turnover

Former Assemblywoman Lori Saldana, shown with San Diego mayoral candidate and City Councilman David Alvarez last September, served as chair of the local Sierra Club chapter's executive committee during a period of high leadership turnover. / photo by Alex Fuller * U-T San Diego

Former Assemblywoman Lori Saldana, shown with San Diego mayoral candidate and City Councilman David Alvarez last September, served as chair of the local Sierra Club chapter's executive committee during a period of high leadership turnover. / photo by Alex Fuller * U-T San Diego

In 2008, for example, the national board issued a four-year suspension against the executive committee of the Florida chapter. News reports quoted Robert Cox, then chairman of the national board, saying Florida chapter members had complained of factionalism, secret meetings and fixed elections.

But some on the ousted executive committee said the suspension was retaliation for their public disagreements with national headquarters over issues such as the national board’s support for biofuels and its endorsement of the Green Works product line from Clorox.

Scott, the current national president, said the Florida suspension improved local management. “The general consensus is that the chapter emerged as a much stronger chapter,” he said.

In 2009, the national office imposed a four-year suspension on the Los Padres chapter, which encompasses Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. That suspension followed two fractious elections for the chapter’s executive committee. Officials cited voter fraud and other irregularities.

While leaders of the San Diego chapter haven’t spelled out reasons for the potential suspension, some said routine operations were hindered by lapses in leadership. Others said the national board has increasingly micro-managed the chapter’s operations and directed its political positions and endorsements.

When Stump learned about his removal, he promptly filed a response but never received copies of complaints or other evidence against him, according to his lawsuit. Stump declined to comment for this story, but his attorney, Robert Ottilie, said Stump never had the chance to clear his name or restore his status.

“The way they treated him was malicious,” Ottilie said.

Westlund said national Sierra Club officials wouldn’t comment on ongoing litigation.